Shanku Sharma
Barak Valley takes pride in representing the world-famous pineapples of Lakhipur sub-division’s Hmarkhawlien in Cachar district. P.B. Acharya, the then Governor of Assam, on his second visit to Hmarkhawlien, expressed his deep appreciation of the hard work the farmers were putting in for increasing the production of cash-crops despite facing constraints. In the year of 2016, at a function which was organized by the civil administration of Lakhipur and managed by circle officer Pradip Kumar Gupta, the governor in his brief addressed before the distinguished assembly of the people of Hmarkhawlien about his deep appreciation for the hard work the farmers were putting in bringing out the surplus of pineapples. He further heaped praises for them for their sustained efforts to become self-dependent by scientifically utilizing the hilly areas around their village for pineapple cultivation. However, a dire need of providing good quality inputs and fertilizers was felt by the governor. It was believed that the need of education and literacy was also important in this area. He said, the present government at the Centre led by Mr. Narendra Modi has started various welfare schemes and projects and it is only with people’s cooperation that they can be properly implemented.
The history says that it was the Welsh Missionary Rev. Watkin Roberts alias Joute Herald Brown, who came down to this remote area in the year of 1916 in the Lakhipur sub-division of Cachar. He is often believed to be behind the making of Hmarkhawlien. The growing level of literacy among the Hmars has contributed towards urbanization of the villages around and creating better avenues of employment. The pineapple plantation initiated by Rev. Watkin Roberts has lured the Hmars from other areas to this developing village.
The collective income generated from this seasonal cash crop is estimated to be around Rs.25 lakh. However, with the margin of profit being low due to various factors, the villagers are thinking of switching over to other cash-crops. Hmars have however reasons to rejoice looking at the growing literacy. With an ever increasing demand for pineapples, the planters find it difficult to increase the areas of cultivation due to various reasons. Notwithstanding the appreciable production every summer and also autumn, the growers face many problems in marketing. This includes the lack of modern cold storage for storing the fruit and the recurrent non-availability of a proper transport system to ferry the pineapples to both the wholesale and retail outlets in the district and outside. Another 20 lakh pieces of pineapples were produced in the village during autumn. The organic farming also reflects upon the obsession of farmers for pineapples that they choose none other than this sweet and cool fruit for its cultivation. Two types of pineapples are available in Hmarkhawlien – one is of a size above 14 inches and the other measuring between 12 and 14 inches. It is pertinent to mention here that a consignment of 15 tons of pineapples, cultivated in Cachar district’s Lakhipur sub-division, was once exported to the global markets in Dubai, for the first time. Jakir Hussain Choudhury, district agriculture officer, Cachar, said that the move had been initiated by the department of horticulture, Assam, and executed through the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the ministry of commerce and industry, Government of India. In fact, it was a pilot project for which 10,000 pineapples, at around 15 tons, were loaded in a refrigerated container that traveled all the way to Mumbai from where these products were sent to Dubai. The district agriculture officer also said, once the consignment reaches Mumbai, the parameters for sending the consignment offshore will again undergo a fresh assessment. It was Cachar’s former deputy commissioner, Laya Madduri, who flagged off the maiden consignment of pineapples. She shared her happiness as efforts were made to boost the confidence of the farmers in Hmarkhawlien.
Assam’s largest pineapple orchard in Hmarkhawlien, 25km from here, with south-east Manipur on its border, is our pride.
